Gaston Braves hire new coach, begin season on Friday

Published: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:17 PM.

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Eight players return from last year’s team – Aaron Biggerstaff, Nate Buchanan, Jake Dobbins, Ethan Frazier, Jarke Hopkins, Morgan Rhom, Justin Williams, Dustin Wiles. King also will have seven other players will experience playing for the program’s Belmont and Stanley Junior Legion programs.

King began his coaching career while he attended the University of North Carolina; He was an assistant coach at Durham Southern (1992) and Durham Jordan (1993) before working at West Mecklenburg (1994), South Point (1994-2000) and North Mecklenburg (2000-12).

As a football assistant at South Point, King was a part of a staff that coached eventual NFL first-round draft pick Koren Robinson and made the switch from the I-formation to the spread option “Red Bone” offense the school has used since 1999. As a baseball assistant, King helped the Red Raiders to one league championship and two state playoff appearances.

At North Mecklenburg, King was head coach of the Vikings for 10 years and for Huntersville Post 321 for three seasons. At North Meck, King’s teams went 190-68 with regular season or tournament titles in eight seasons. At Huntersville, his teams were 39-34 with two playoff victories in three seasons.

MOUNT HOLLY – Before coming to East Gaston High School as a teacher this school year, Mark King had helped South Point and North Mecklenburg to high school baseball championships.

He’ll get another chance to lead a team a championship after being named Gaston Braves American Legion baseball coach earlier this week.

King’s hiring comes after former Braves coach Kyle Geswein was among several financial cuts at Belmont Abbey College, where he was a Crusaders baseball assistant coach.

And King will quickly make his debut as Braves’ coach when the team hosts Mint Hill at East Gaston’s Choctaw Field.

“It feels great to be back out there,” said King, a 1988 Bessemer City High graduate who has previously coach Legion ball for old Bessemer City Post 243 and Huntersville Post 321. “I didn’t know how it’d be until I got out here at practice (on Tuesday). I’m learning all of these kids now, but they’ve got great attitudes.”

Geswein, who is seeking another college coaching job, guided the Braves to a 34-22 record in two years as head coach, including last year’s historic 22-10 season. Gaston, which is co-sponsored by Belmont Post 144 and Stanley Post 266, won a team-record three playoff series and advanced to the North Carolina Area IV finals for the first season.

“Everybody’s excited because of last year’s record,” King said of the Braves, who lost 3-2 in a best-of-five series to eventual N.C. runner-up Cherryville in the Area IV finals. “But we’ll see how it goes.”

Eight players return from last year’s team – Aaron Biggerstaff, Nate Buchanan, Jake Dobbins, Ethan Frazier, Jarke Hopkins, Morgan Rhom, Justin Williams, Dustin Wiles. King also will have seven other players will experience playing for the program’s Belmont and Stanley Junior Legion programs.

King began his coaching career while he attended the University of North Carolina; He was an assistant coach at Durham Southern (1992) and Durham Jordan (1993) before working at West Mecklenburg (1994), South Point (1994-2000) and North Mecklenburg (2000-12).

As a football assistant at South Point, King was a part of a staff that coached eventual NFL first-round draft pick Koren Robinson and made the switch from the I-formation to the spread option “Red Bone” offense the school has used since 1999. As a baseball assistant, King helped the Red Raiders to one league championship and two state playoff appearances.

At North Mecklenburg, King was head coach of the Vikings for 10 years and for Huntersville Post 321 for three seasons. At North Meck, King’s teams went 190-68 with regular season or tournament titles in eight seasons. At Huntersville, his teams were 39-34 with two playoff victories in three seasons.